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Putin in China to cement key alliance
Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in China on Tuesday for a three-day visit aimed at bolstering a crucial alliance that has seen the giant neighbours block further action against Syria. Both energy and foreign policy cooperation are high on the agenda, with Putin also participating in a regional summit Wednesday and Thursday where he will separately meet the presidents of Iran and Afghanistan. Putin’s China trip, his first to Asia since starting an historic third term last month, comes after failed attempts by EU leaders to sway him on Syria — a Soviet-era ally Moscow still supplies with arms. Beijing and Moscow have walked in lockstep on Syria to growing anger from Arab and Western nations, with EU PresidentHerman Van Rompuy telling Putin in Russia on Monday that world powers needed to “find common messages on which we agree”. http://news.ph.msn.com/top-stories/putin-in-china-to-cement-key-alliance-5

The government routinely “fails to take action” in cases of serious human rights violations, particularly all forms of sexual assault against women, communal violence, enforced disappearances in conflict areas, extrajudicial killings, torture, and increasing attacks on human rights defenders, they said.

These issues are compounded by the widespread impunity for abuses and the corresponding problems of access to justice and adequate compensation, they said.

The EU should call for repeal of Indian laws that protect public officials from prosecution for violating human rights, effective implementation of policies to ensure social justice, and a commitment to ensure freedom of expression, including on the internet, Human Rights Watch said.

They also called upon the EU to encourage India to use its increasing global influence to address human rights problems in other countries.

“India’s growing regional and global influence should be matched by an increasing commitment to protect human rights abroad,” Leicht said.